(Nearly) 30 weeks

Can you believe we are headed into the home stretch!  At one point this pregnancy felt like it was going to go on forever and now here I am packing a hospital bag and making arrangements for delivery day and IPs are painting the nursery and moving in furniture!

Baby A (top) Baby B (bottom)

Babies are very active and continue to grow and grow.  We have another visit with MFM coming up for a growth u/s to get an estimate on their sizes.  Here are a couple of sweet images from the last OB appt.  Getting a lil baby squish on them now!!!  Aren't they just too cute!!!

Things are going well.  I did end up not passing the 3 hr GTT so I've been diagnosed as having gestational diabetes (GDM).  This is a first for me and although it comes with a few risks to myself and babies, if well controlled we all should do just fine.  My OB suggested I start modifying my diet about 6 wks ago and that was going well but, unfortunately with the GDM diagnosis not only do I have to watch what I eat but I also have to monitor blood sugar levels so, on Friday I met with the dietitian and picked up my glucometer.  I take my blood sugar readings 4x daily, once after waking up and then an hour after each meal and I also have to document what I'm eating throughout the day.  If anything the dietitian was concerned with how infrequently I was eating so I'm being very diligent about taking in enough nutrients by getting in three decent meals and a few snacks while still keeping a close eye on my carb(sugar) intake.  I follow up with both my OB and the dietitian in about a week to find out if the GDM is being controlled well enough by diet alone or if we have to consider medication.  Fingers crossed for a good update.

Just for fun I'm adding a baby poll to this post and it will also be available in the sidebar with the full blog layout.  Would love to hear your guesses.  Remember, full term due date is December 11th but due to being multiples, if I don't go into labor on my own before 38 weeks (November 27th), my OB will deliver babies via c-section right around that date .  Babies have been measuring big and we DO NOT know gender of either A or B.  Have fun!!!!

Big Milestones (GS#1 & GS#2)

There have a been a few big milestones with my surrofams these past few weeks.

Giovanni started KINDERGARTEN!!  Mom and dad weren't quite ready for this.  Despite them both having jobs that keep them busy, they've been able to avoid daycare over the years and besides some help from Grandma Lou, he's been home with the two of them until this transition.  We have a trip to the apple orchard planned in a few weeks and I can't wait to hear how everyone is adjusting. (Picture in GSx1 photo album)

This past weekend my family and I made our way to Chicago to help Ryan and Mason celebrate their 3rd birthday.  I just can't believe it, three years since these beautiful little boys stole away our hearts and K & S were blessed by their arrival.

Momma held their party at a pizza place downtown Chicago complete with balloon twister to keep the kids entertained.  Some of his creations were pretty darn cool.  She also had a professional photographer on hand to capture memories from the day.  We bribed the boys at the end that they could open a gift if they smiled nice and said "cheese" to get a pic with me.  Oh man did they ham it up!!  The photographer said I got the best pics of the day with them.  I can't wait for IM to share those.

Ryan (L) & Mason (R)

We have another little get together planned in a few weeks at the pumpkin patch that will allow me a little one on one time with these goofballs.  Can't wait. :)  Here's a pic of the silly three year-olds till then. 

26 Weeks

We ended last week with an uneventful MFM appointment.  Babies were both measuring approximately 2lbs 5oz which still puts them close to the 90th percentile.  There had been some concern a few weeks back about the increased amniotic fluid levels but that was back within normal range which was good news and the blood work I had run a few weeks back came back negative for any kind of intrauterine infection.

Yesterday I followed up with OB for a routine visit and to also take the 1-hour GTT. We had a quick u/s to check heart tones which were perfect.  Despite a few days prior Baby A being transverse and Baby B being breech, yesterday they were both breech with heads up under my rib cage. Ouch.  BP and urine were fine and I only gained 2 lbs the last few weeks.  Yay!  After my rapid gain of 8 lbs over a similar time span last check up, I was relieved to hear this news.  I've been modifying my diet and cutting out/back on sugars and carbs and it seems to be working.  Despite my efforts though, I still failed the 1-hour GTT.   Although I'm not entirely surprised it's still a bummer.  My result was 155, the guideline is typically under 140 but my OB actually uses under 135 as her cut off.  So, I will head back in bright and early Saturday AM to have the 3-hour GTT done.  Since I haven't passed the 1-hour my last four pregnancies now, this will be my 4th time taking the 3-hour.  When you add up ALL the time I've spent taking this wonderful screening test over seven pregnancies, it comes up to be 24 hours of my life - an entire day!  I'm hopeful the result comes back within normal limits otherwise we will be looking at a gestational diabetes diagnosis which I've never had before.

Overall I'm feeling pretty good, very pregnant but good.  I am welcoming the cool down in weather that is coming and recently modified my work schedule by going down to part-time.  The last few weeks had become rough working full days.  Although I was doing my best to hang in there and work at a normal pace, I'd come home exhausted with no energy to offer my family.  The change in hours will allow me a good balance between work, family and rest.

I am seeing the OB every two weeks now and we will continue our monthly MFM growth scan appointments as well.  I'm hoping to carry these lil ones to 36 weeks, so another 10 weeks or so to go.   I have no doubt with the frequency of appointments picking up here now as we begin the third trimester it will be here before we know it!